LPN to RN Programs

If you are thinking of advancing your nursing career, there are a number of options which may fit your situation. All in all, there are three main options for licensed practical nurses and newcomers to the nursing field who want to become an RN directly. In this article we will discuss options available to advance your career from LPN to RN.

If you don’t have prior experience, education, or a license in nursing, you have two options to become an RN. The first one is to complete a two year long Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. Successful completion of an ADN program will let you qualify to take the National Council of Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) and become an RN. The other option is to enroll directly for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. BSN programs usually take four years and, after successful completion of the BSN program, you can take NCLEX-RN and become an RN.

There are also other options to become an RN for people who are new to nursing field who have degrees in other disciplines. We will cover that in another article.

If you are already licensed and are working as an LPN, you can become an RN either by becoming ADN and then taking the NCLEX-RN exam or enroll in a BSN program directly and take the NCLEX-RN after successful completion of your BSN program.

If you want to follow the LPN-to-ADN-to-RN option, you will be able to save some time by joining the ADN program at the third semester, provided that you meet the admission requirements, course prerequisites, and pass the bridge course with a grade of “C” or better. The specifics of these requirements vary from one college to another and also greatly vary by sate. You should contact the college you want to attend and find out these details.

Tuition and fees for LPN to RN programs also vary from college to college. Based on our research on few selected colleges from different states, the ballpark figure for LPN to RN programs is around $7,500.00. The cost of LPN to RN programs includes tuition, textbooks, uniforms, assessment testing, liability insurance, lab fees, background checks, membership in student nursing organization, and board applications, etc. The details will be different for different colleges.

If you are currently employed, most college will advise you to cut back from your working hours so that you can focus on your study. But you can still work while taking your LPN to RN program. If you have financial problem, you can always apply for student financial aid at Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – www.fafsa.ed.gov.

If want to find out more about these programs, you can contact your state nursing board directly or visit their website. You can get complete list of state nursing boards here.